There are some special words and phrases that we need to understand and be ready to use at the bank.
These phrases are the most important expressions that we use.
The cashier () is the person who serves you in a bank. They are usually behind a glass screen for security. In the US they are called 'tellers'.
A bank account ( ) is the record of how much money that you keep in the bank. There are many different kinds of account.
'Current account' ( ) means that you can take the money quickly whenever you want.
'High interest account' ( ) is another record of money that you keep in the bank for a long time. Every month the bank pays you a little money (interest) for keeping a lot of money in the account.
The balance () is how much money you have at one time in one account. You can ask 'I'd like to know the balance of my current account'.
A cash/debit card ( ) is another way to take out money. You put it in a machine, type some numbers and it gives you money.
A hole-in-the-wall() is the machine that you can take money from with a cash card. In the US, they are called A.T.Ms.
You have
an overdraft ( ) when you take out more money than you have in your account. You have minus money (e.g. -50 pounds).
If you have an overdraft you are overdrawn (adjective) and we say that your account is
'in the red' ( ). In the black ( ) is the opposite.
A standing order ( ) is some money that the bank automatically pays to somebody from your account every month. In the UK, we often pay for gas / electricity / telephone like this.
Sometimes you need
to put/place/deposit money into an account ( )
But mostly you use your cash card
to withdraw money from an account ( )
